Trade winds blow across the Pacific, water flows westward and lots of upwelling occurs
along the west coast of South America.
El Nino- A warm ocean current which flows from across the Pacific from west to east,
then flows south when it hits the coast of Peru. It is named "El Nino" because it usually
starts around Christmas time so it is named after the Christ child.
How El Nino Works:
1) Trade winds in the Pacific relax and reverse and upwelling diminishes.
2) Reversed winds bring warmer waters from the western pacific to the coast of South
America.
3) Develops into a long current of water stretching across the Pacific to South America
that is very warm.
Effects of El Nino:
1) Less upwelling brings less nutrients to the surface that fishes need, so fish populations
decline and fishing industry suffers.
2) Industry such as poultry farmers need to increase their prices due to more expensive
non-fish meal given to poultry.
3) Greater precipitation and stronger storms in the eastern Pacific.
4) Flooding in southern U.S. states.
5) Droughts and dryer conditions in the western Pacific.
6) Changes in upper air motion cause shear in tropical weather systems resulting in less
active hurricane seasons in the Atlantic.